中国石油天然气集团近日收购了荷兰皇家壳牌有限公司旗下叙利亚子公司壳牌叙利亚油气开发公司35%的股份。

史密夫律师事务所及其荷兰联盟Stibbe律师事务所共同为中石油提供法律服务和咨询。

Herbert Smith and its Dutch alliance Stibbe have together advised China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) on its acquisition of 35% interest in Syria Shell Petroleum Development (SSPD), currently 100% owned by Shell. Shell was advised by its own in-house legal team.

 “We have seen a very significant upswing in outbound acquisition activity by Chinese companies who are keen to secure energy resources and are looking around the world to meet their future needs,” said Anna Howell, Herbert Smith’s lead partner on the deal. In March, Howell also led a team of Herbert Smith lawyers in advising China National Offshore Oil Corporation’s acquisition of 3.6 million tonnes (per annum) of LNG for a 20-year period from Queensland-based BG Group.

CNPC’s stake acquisition in SSPD highlights the Middle East as one of the hot investment destinations for PRC oil and gas companies.

In addition to the acquisition, Qatar Petroleum, on behalf of the government of the State of Qatar also earlier signed a new exploration and production sharing agreement with Shell and PetroChina for Qatar Block D.